Lonsdale Shawn}’s portrait

Lonsdale Shawn

  • 38 years old
  • Born Dec 30, 1969
  • Died Feb 16, 2008
  • United States
This page is created to pay our tributes to Shawn Lonsdale. Please feel free to share any photos or memories of Shawn. May he R.I.P.
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About

Lonsdale

Shawn Lonsdale, a vocal Scientology critic who both directed his own anti-church documentary and appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary titled Scientology And Me, was found dead in his home over the weekend in an apparent suicide, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

While authorities do not suspect foul play, the same cannot be said of the Internet message board posters who are alleging that church members harassed Lonsdale into committing suicide—if they didn't actually directly off the guy and make it look like a suicide. "This is a little TOO suspicious. Coincides with our attacks?" writes one Anonymous poster, noting the proximity of Lonsdale's death to the recent spate of public anti-Scientology protests. Over at the Times' website, accusations are more direct: "An apparent suicide? Maybe it was staged to look like a suicide. Has anyone noticed how many Off-Duty Officers work for Scientology! These will be the same officers investigating this Suicide???? An investigation with Impartiality? Justice Denied?"


Lonsdale's history with the church is curious. Unlike most anti-Scientology crusaders, he was never actually a member, and had no direct involvement in the church's operations. After a documentary he cobbled together with footage of Scientology buildings, church staffers, and verbal confrontations with Scientologists was aired on local cable TV in 2006, a private investigator hired by the church revealed that Lonsdale had two misdemeanor convictions related to public sex with men on his record. Another poster on the Times' website claims that the church plastered the downtown Clearwater area with posters of Lonsdale's face and social security number.



http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/02/antiscientology-activist-found-dead-in-home.php


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Memories

My memory

sad guy Nov 01, 2009

RIP Shawn, God bless you, may god pardon thee for all thy sins

Scientology Hates Shawn Lonsdale

Mary McConnell Jun 13, 2009

Before he died, Shawn was attacked by a high level scientologist named Ron Savelo. I wish he were around to see the progress that's beeen made! Never the less, Shawn is still being attacked by Scientology long after his death . The fact is, he videotapped this attack by Savelo and posted it on the internet before he died. Ron Savelo, feeling the smarting of having a his reputation marred by the truth, actually lied to youtube and Chilling Effects.org: http://www.chillingeffects.org/ claiming he owned the rights to Shawn Lonsdale's video of that assault when they actually belong to the estate of Shawn Lonsdale. counter complaints are in the works as I write this:
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/186-youtube-vimeo-problems/ron-savelo-dmca-again-46060/

This goes to show you how persecuted he was by Scientology and how effective his videos are. They are a testimony of truth. Ron Savelo should be ashamed about what he did but he isn't. That's a scientologist for you. Cold and calculating.
R.I.P. Shawn. The Lord loves you with all his heart and soul.

Balls of Steel

Sam May 30, 2009

This man was the Indiana Jones of the Anti-Scientology movement. Not even the most hardened veterans of the battle for free speech against the cult could so bravely walk up to the steps of their robot factories in Clearwater and make videos. No one could so openly talk about their highest levels while almost literally surrounded by those crazed dingbats. We will continue the fight Shawn started in his honor and in the honor of every victim of Scientology.

Expect us.

My Hero

Wig Feb 18, 2009

I admire your fight with Scientology given your circumstances. I used the words Cult Watch on my picket signs and of course your name was there. I cannot picket recently but I will continue the fight in your honor, and many other victims. You will not be forgotten.

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Edward Dawson

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